Main differences between pure CBD and broad spectrum CBD extract
There are many differences between the two types, which we will focus on in this article. We'll also look at how cannabidiol is ingested, as the way you inject cannabidiol (CBD) into your body can have a big impact on what its effects will be as a result. As you'll soon discover, the plant extract of cannabidiol is much more popular than the pure isolate for logical reasons. However, it too has some benefits that may appeal to some users.
Basic questions
Due to the ever-increasing popularity of CBD, more and more users are wondering what the best methods of obtaining and administering this cannabinoid are. Most of them are then usually interested in what type of CBD is most effective from a therapeutic point of view. Most users prefer the "regular" extract, but don't really know why.
Which cannabidiol product is most effective? What dosage is best for them personally? And how to take CBD to best and fastest help them from various ailments? Generally, we see three most common ways of administering cannabidiol - sublingually (under the tongue), topically on the skin, or swallowing capsules. New methods such as vaporisation and smoking CBD-containing e-liquids are also gaining popularity, and some consider these methods to be the most effective way to take it. In this context, the demand for pure CBD without other substances, i.e. isolates, has been growing recently. The latter differs from plant extracts in that it contains only purified cannabidiol and no other cannabinoids, terpenes or healthy fatty acids that are otherwise common in standard extracts from whole cannabis plants.
Hundreds of medicinal substances
Cannabis itself contains over a hundred active cannabinoids, CBD being just one of them. However, in addition to cannabinoids, cannabis also contains more than two hundred substances called terpenes, which have their own independent therapeutic effects and also enhance the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. Terpenes are also found in other plants and are responsible for smell and taste, but medically they do not attract as much attention as cannabinoids, especially CBD. However, some other cannabinoids can also have the effect of alleviating a number of symptoms of various medical conditions. These include, for example, the cannabinoids CBN or CBG, which are found in smaller amounts in most plant extracts and have been found to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
What about THC?
Extracts from the whole plant usually also contain precisely measured amounts of probably the most well-known cannabinoid, the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, the amount of THC in commercially available extracts is so minimal that you can completely rule out the possibility of it affecting your psyche in any way. The number of tenths of a percent of THC allowed in a product varies from country to country, so it is always very important for manufacturers to know how high a THC content they can legally sell in a given country.
Synergistic effect
When CBD is combined with other cannabinoids (including terpenes), a synergistic effect known as the 'entourage effect' occurs. This means that the relationship between cannabinoids and terpenes mutually reinforces the therapeutic effects of the individual components of cannabis.
The study, published by Israel's Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, focused on the difference in efficacy of a CBD isolate versus a mere plant extract. The results also supported the concept of synergistic action. The authors literally concluded, "In all our experiments, pure CBD was shown to have a positive effect only at a certain amount, whereas the broad-spectrum extract became increasingly effective with increasing dose. Thus, the results suggest that pure cannabidiol only counteracts pain and swelling at a certain dose, while an extract containing a mixture of different cannabinoids and terpenes has better effects with increasing doses. "
Hemp is not just CBD
Thus, the results of this study tend to support the view that the broad-spectrum extract is preferable to the isolate for most users. The isolate, however, remains very popular. Indeed, many people still think that pure CBD will be much more effective than the classic whole plant extract. This view is based on the misconception that CBD is the only medicinal substance in cannabis and that the other substances contained are rather harmful. Thus, a large number of users believe that if they inject only pure CBD into their body, without terpenes and other 'unnecessary' compounds in cannabis, they are taking the best and most effective form of cannabidiol possible.
As already mentioned, inhaling CBD in the form of e-cigarette refills or vaping is still the most effective and fastest method for most people to get cannabidiol into their bodies. And since it is an isolate that is put into e-liquids and vaporizer cartridges, this type of CBD preparation seems to be the most sensible method. Yes, it is indeed a very effective method, however, the lack of any synergistic action when taking the pure isolate is a clear disadvantage and a reduction in the therapeutic potential of CBD compared to taking a complex extract of the plant.
Also, the isolate has its advantages
Despite all this, however, CBD isolate boasts something that extract cannot offer. Many people are concerned (and rightly so) that even the low percentage of THC in the extract may pose some danger to them. In reality, users of the isolate don't have to worry about THC because the product contains nothing but CBD. In short, some are worried that they might not pass a drug test spotlessly or perhaps get a psychoactive high because of the small amount of THC. However, with such low THC content in extracts, these fears are highly unlikely - but the problem arises when the information on the product label does not match the reality. This happens very often in practice.
THC is of course also involved in the synergistic action, which is the logical reason why it is good to keep it in the extract. A recently published peer-reviewed article on broad-spectrum extracts advocated the importance of THC in them: "In technical cannabis, THC is present in truly minimal, virtually trace amounts (in the Czech Republic, it cannot legally exceed 0.3%). THC functions in much the same way as anandamide, an endocannabinoid neurotransmitter that the human body produces itself. However, with such a low THC content, which is required by law, the likelihood of any psychoactive effects after ingesting a legal extract from the plant is virtually zero. "
Conclusion
All the benefits that CBD-rich broad spectrum extracts bring with them are slowly making CBD isolate less popular. Thanks to the growing awareness of the benefits of the synergistic action of the many compounds contained in plant extracts, growers and producers are beginning to realise that cannabis has much more to offer than just CBD and THC. They are therefore moving away from extracting all the other components of this versatile herb.
It is clear that the more the synergistic action of cannabis and the medical benefits of broad spectrum extracts versus isolating individual substances are written and understood, the more the production and sales of pure CBD products will decline in the coming years.
Sources:
http://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=53912#.VP4EIildXvY
http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com/full-spectrum-hemp-oil/
PHOTO: iStock
"All information contained on this website, as well as information provided through this website, is for educational purposes only. None of the information contained herein is intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis and such information is not to be considered medical advice or recommended treatment. This website does not promote, endorse or advocate the legal or illegal use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or the commission of any other illegal activity. Please see our Disclaimer for further information."